Overview

Study drama in the cultural heart of London, one of the world’s greatest performance cities.

Our BA(Hons) in Drama will give you an exciting opportunity to study theatre and performance in a variety of cultures and historical periods, and across a range of forms including plays, site-specific performance, live art, and socially engaged and applied performance. It's taught as an active and dynamic subject involving seminars, practical workshops, theatre and performance trips, and fieldwork. This approach supports the development of your knowledge and expertise, communication, research and performance-making skills, and capacity to work collaboratively with others.

This course offers both practical and theoretical investigation into how theatre and performance can be used in different settings – theatres, art galleries, schools, prisons, warehouses, museums and the street, for example – in the UK and internationally.

You will be taught by leading academics and artists, who will work with you to make learning challenging and engaging, and help you to develop as an informed critic and performance maker.

Study options

Apply for this degree with any of the following options. Take care to use the correct UCAS code - it may not be possible to change your selection later.

Year abroad

Go global and study abroad as part of your degree – apply for our Drama BA with a Year Abroad. Queen Mary has links with universities in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia (partnerships vary for each degree programme).

Additional Costs

A few modules may require you to buy books and tickets to performances or exhibitions, and travel within London. Tickets are free in your first year and, where possible, offered at a discounted rate in subsequent years.

Testimonial

Before coming to Queen Mary, I knew little about live art. Studying drama has enabled me to thoroughly explore the field. Thanks to the passionate team of lecturers, who all have been amazingly inspirational, I graduated with a solid set of knowledge and experience, which I confidently apply to my practice as a performance artist.

Moa Johansson, Drama (2016)

Teaching

Teaching and learning

You'll receive at least eight hours of weekly contact time, mainly in the form of seminars and studio-based workshops. Practice-based modules include an additional three hours of studio time weekly for student-led practice. Some modules also include lectures, tutorials and field trips.

For every hour spent in class, you'll complete approximately four further hours of independent study.

Assessment

Assessment typically includes a combination of written and practical assignments, such as essays, performances, presentations, portfolios, programme notes, reviews, feature articles, artist websites, podcasts and dissertations. Some assessment is based around group work.

Resources and facilities

The School offers on-campus resources to support your studies, including:

three rehearsal spaces

the Pinter Studio

motion capture equipment, allowing students to explore innovative practices with new technology and film

opportunities to act, direct and stage manage through the Queen Mary Theatre Company.

Entry requirements

Drama - BA (Hons)

A-Level

Grades ABB at A-Level. This must include grade A or above in at least one arts, humanities or social sciences subject. Excludes General Studies and Critical Thinking.

IB

International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 32 points overall, including 6,5,5 from three Higher Level subjects. This must include a minimum of 6 in at least one arts, humanities or social sciences subject at Higher Level.

We consider applications from students with the Access to Higher Education Diploma. The minimum academic requirement is to achieve 60 credits overall with 45 credits at Level 3, of which 15 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. This must include at least 6 Level 3 credits in arts or humanities modules at Distinction.

GCSE

Minimum five GCSE passes including English at grade C or 4.

EPQ

Alternative offers may be made to applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification.

Contextualised admissions

We consider every application on its individual merits and will take into consideration your individual educational experiences and context. More information on how academic schools and programmes use this information as part of the admissions process, can be found on our contextualised admissions pages.

Drama with Year Abroad - BA (Hons)

A-Level

Grades ABB at A-Level. This must include grade A or above in at least one arts, humanities or social sciences subject. Excludes General Studies and Critical Thinking.

IB

International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 32 points overall, including 6,5,5 from three Higher Level subjects. This must include a minimum of 6 in at least one arts, humanities or social sciences subject at Higher Level.

We consider applications from students with the Access to Higher Education Diploma. The minimum academic requirement is to achieve 60 credits overall with 45 credits at Level 3, of which 15 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. This must include at least 6 Level 3 credits in arts or humanities modules at Distinction.

GCSE

Minimum five GCSE passes including English at grade C or 4.

EPQ

Alternative offers may be made to applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification.

Contextualised admissions

We consider every application on its individual merits and will take into consideration your individual educational experiences and context. More information on how academic schools and programmes use this information as part of the admissions process, can be found on our contextualised admissions pages.

Non-UK students

We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications in addition to A-levels, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications. Please visit International Admissions for full details.

If your qualifications are not accepted for direct entry onto this degree, consider applying for a foundation programme.

Funding

Loans and grants

Scholarships and bursaries

Queen Mary offers a generous package of scholarships and bursaries, which currently benefits around 50 per cent of our undergraduates.

Scholarships are available for home, EU and international students. Specific funding is also available for students from the local area. International students may be eligible for a fee reduction. We offer means-tested funding, as well as subject-specific funding for many degrees.

Careers

Our Drama graduates go on to work in a variety of roles – including performing, programming and producing – across many different sectors, such as the arts, media, publishing and teaching.

Recent Drama graduates have been hired by:

BBC

Electric Cinema

London Film Museum

National Theatre

Odeon

Shakespeare’s Globe.

Career support

You’ll have access to bespoke careers support during every step of your Drama degree, and a third-year module will prepare you for the transition from university to working life by researching career, entrepreneurial and postgraduate study prospects.

Unistats data for these courses

Drama - BA (Hons)

Drama with Year Abroad - BA (Hons)

About the School

The School of English and Drama provides a first-class learning environment - the Departments of Drama and English are in the top 35 in the world (QS World Rankings by Subject 2018). And you’ll learn from leading experts: Drama is ranked first and English fifth in the UK for research quality (Research Excellence Framework 2014).

We are a large school, with lots of specialist staff, so you can study the topics that interest you. You’ll have tailored support, including individual feedback on your work, and there are opportunities to contribute to student publications.

We regularly host prominent writers and performers, and collaborate with high-profile organisations such as the V&A, the Barbican, the Southbank Centre and Shakespeare’s Globe.

The School runs several innovative research centres, including the Centre for Poetry; the Centre for Renaissance and Early Modern Studies; the Centre for Religion and Literature in English; and the Sexual Cultures Research Group.